Build the Dialogue Between Cornel West and Bob Avakian Among "Those Who Catch the Hardest Hell Every Day"
September 8, 2014 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
The Dialogue between Cornel West and Bob Avakian on Revolution and Religion can speak to—and must reach—everyone with a shred of concern for what is happening today. Those who get a sense of this—whether we are veterans of the struggle, newer, or even if we are just starting out—need to take responsibility to make this Dialogue reach that potential. That means building this all through society, in many different sections of people—from the campuses to people losing sleep over the environment to the cultural world, among students and youth, and all over.
At the same time, we've got to urgently and broadly build this among those who catch hell every day. And we've got to start RIGHT NOW!
How can this be done? We can start very simple.
We can get the word out far and wide with fliers and leaflets that can be posted in the neighborhoods of the oppressed—not just a handful of people doing this, but involving all kinds of community people in getting these out, posting them in stores and community centers, etc. Wear Revolution—Nothing Less! T-shirts as you do, and have some ready to sell to people. Everywhere you go, give out the QR cards that let people connect on the Internet to BA's New Year's Statement "A Call To Revolution"—or play it on the spot for those you meet and talk with. Take the time to show people, and to get them started reading, "Watching Fruitvale Station With Bob Avakian."
People have made, and will make more, statements on why they are coming to hear this Dialogue, which you can and will get on this site. We can begin posting copies of these statements in places where people pass through or congregate.
We can—and must—spread fundraising far and wide, with car washes, sweet potato pie sales, and house parties. We can encourage people to make "revolutionary change" jars, raising money from friends and families—and in the course of all this, the film REVOLUTION—NOTHING LESS! can be shown and discussed (See "Harlem Bake Sale Raises $700+ for BA Everywhere" for an example of how to do this.). The best part is that not everyone has to do everything, but everyone can do something!
We need to raise money to make this event reach as far and wide as possible. Raising money also enables people very broadly to not just participate in this but to get to know what BA stands for and to begin connecting in a powerful way with this revolutionary leader. It lets them know that they will be welcome at this, and that their deepest questions will be addressed.
In all this, we should strengthen and spread the 1,000 Years/$1,000 for BA Everywhere—letting people hear those in prison or who have been in prison challenge others to raise money to get the word out on how people can actually get emancipated—which is what this Dialogue is all about!
Many people reading this will also be building for the October Month of Resistance to Mass Incarceration, Police Terror, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation. That's not a problem, that's a plus! Do both things at once. If you're doing a fundraiser for the Dialogue, be sure to have materials for the Month of Resistance on hand; if you're out there blowing the whistle against the police carrying out abuse, wear your Revolution—Nothing Less! T-shirt. Let's keep it simple.
These are radically simple ways to begin right now—this week—to get this out there. As we create a mass movement on the bottom of society for this Dialogue, as we use this website to write about experiences and questions and learn from others, we can do more and better. But the main thing for now is: Let's get going! And tell us what you're learning as you do...
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